Game apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' H. A. BEHN.

GAME APPARATUS. No. 425,849. Patented Apr. 1 5, 1890.

\X/HLFIESEESI r E LET:

(NO M el.)

BEEN 2 Sheets s GAME APP S.

Patented Apr. 15,1890.

., To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. BEHN, OF UNION HILL, NEXV JERSEY.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 425,849, dated April 15, 1890. Application filed May 29, 1889. Serial No. 312,511. (No model.)

Be it known that I, HENRY A. BEHN, of Union Hill, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus;- and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in game apparatus; and the object of my invention is to provide a game in which a number of figures-such as horses, men, yachts, bicycles, and figures, or objects of any kind are made to race around a track, and in which the motive power for moving the figures is applied to wheels upon which the figures are mounted, so as to cause them to revolve alike until they are discharged from the pushingrod, when they revolve independently.

Figure l is a side elevation of a game which embodies my invention, portions being broken away so as to show the operating parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.

A represents a suitable inclosing-frame, of any suitable construction, the top of which is formed into concentric rings B of different sizes, there being left circular slots at between the-rings sufficiently wide to allow the supports for the animals to pass freely through. These concentric rings form the race-track around which the figures, of whatever kind, are made to race. Rising from the center of the base and projecting up above the race-track is a stationary vertical rod 0, upon the lower end of which is placed the loosely-revolving pinion D, which meshes with the operatingwheel E, which is placed upon a short journal or bearing F, which is located to one side of the vertical rod 0. This wheel E revolves loosely upon its journal and has secured rigidly to it a ratchet-wheel G, with which the spring-pawl d, secured to the lever I, engages. The inner end of the lever I is pivoted upon the short stud or bearing just above the ratchet-wheel G, and by forcing the lever around in one direction the pawl is made to communicate motion to the ratchet G and wheel E, and this motion is communicated to the pinion D, so as to cause it to revolve with considerable force and rapidity. When the outer end of the lever I is moved backward to obtain a fresh hold upon the ratchet-wheel, the pawl slips idly back without affecting the wheel E or ratchet in any manner. Rigidly secured to the top of the pinion D is the L-shaped arm J, which projects out beyond the track, and upon which is pivoted the spring-actuated latch L. In the upper end of the rod J, where it projects above the track, is made a notch or recess, in which the outer end of the pushing-rod N is made to catch, and over the top of which the spring-actuated latch L catches for the pur pose of holding the rod in a horizontal position, so as to force the figures 1) around. A

The lower end of the spring-actuated latch L is made to project below the L-shaped rod J, so that the end of the latch will strike against the edge of the lever I after the figures have been given a forcible impulse or movement, and the lower end of the latch being moved backward the pushing-rod N at once springs up into a vertical position, and thus leaves the figures to revolve independently of each other. As long as the pushingrod is carried around by the bent rod J the figures are pushed together in advance of it; but after the pushing-rod is released the figures are left free to revolve alone, so as to make it a matter of the .most uncertainty as to which one shall stop first. Placed upon the rod C above the top of the track is a looselyrevolving collar 0, and projecting from this collar 0 is an arm or bearing P, through which the inner bent end of the pushing-rod passes, and in which is placed a spring 0, which is applied to the inn er end of the pushing-rod, so as to cause it to snap back into a vertical position when it is left free to move. Also secured to this arm P is a suitable stop Q, which limits the distance that the pushing-rod shall be moved backward by the spring.

hen the pushing-rod is in a vertical position, the figures are not affected; but when the pushing-rod is brought into a horizontal position and held by the latch L it catches behind all of the figures alike and forces them evenly around. It is only when the pushingrod has been released from the latch L that the figures revolve independently.

Placed upon the rod C are a series of sta- 5 tionary collars R, from which project the arms S, forsupporting the different rings or portions B of the track, and alternating with these collars are a second series of revolving collars T, from which the arms U project for to supporting the Wheels V, upon which the different figures are supported. These wheels have sufficient weight so that when given a forward impulse they will continue to revolve some time around the rod 0, carrying the figures secured to them above the top of the track. By using wheels, as here shown,a steady and continued movement is given to the figures.

Each one of the stationary collars which is locked to the rod C has a conical projection \V extending from each of its faces, and these conical projections catch in the openings of the revolving collars, and thus center them in position and allow them to revolve with but a very small amount of friction. The moving collars do not fit tightly to the rod C, but are centered in position and made to revolve entirely upon the conical projections V.

Upon the rod 0 will be placed a represen- 3o tation of the judges stand, or any other construction that may be preferred. Across the top of the track there is to be a starting-line up to-which the different figures are moved by the pushing-rod, and then by giving a vig- 5 orous push or pull to the outer end of the lover I the figures are moved together around the track until the lower end of the latch strikes against the lever so as to release the pushing-rod, and then the figures are carried 40 around by the momentum of the wheels alone.

The wheels are of difierent sizes and the figures are moved at different rates of speed, but it is impossible to say which one will stop nearest to the starting-line, and hence it is a matter of the utmost uncertainty as to which figure will win.

Having thus described my claim 1. The combination of the upright rod, the wheels supported upon the rod, collars placed upon the rod and-provided with conical projections to catch inside of the hubs of the wheels, the track, the figures mounted upon the wheels, and an operating mechanism for causing the wheels to revolve, substantially as shown. a

2. The combination of the stationary rod,

a pinion loosely placed thereon, a series of revolving wheels placed upon the rod and carrying figures, and the race-track with the L- shaped rod J, secured to the said pinion, the spring-actuated latch L, pivoted upon the rod J and having its lower end to strike against the pushing-lever, the pushing-rod N, the operating-wheel E, journaled to one side of the rod C and meshing with the pinion, the ratchet mounted upon the wheel, the push-leverI, and the pawl secured to the rod and engaging with the ratchet, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the operating mechanism, of the stationary rod provided with a pinion which engages with the operating mechanism, the L-shaped rod J, secured to the said pinion and provided with a notch invcn tion, I

at its upper end, the spring-actuated latch L, pivoted upon the rod J, the spring-actuated pushing-rod located above the track and adapted to engage with the spring-latch at its outer end, the Wh eels carrying figures mounted upon the shaft 0, and the track, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my slgnature in presence of two Witnesses.

' HENRY A. BEHN. Witnesses:

ALLEN S. PATTISON, PHILIP MAURO. 

